Edith Muriel (Teschemaker) Anderson DBE (1883 - 1958)

Born 1883 in Taipo Hill, Otago, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of David Murray Anderson KCB KCMG — married 1908 in Kensington, London, England

Died 5 Sep 1958 at about age 75 in England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Dame Edith Anderson was the wife of His Excellency Admiral Sir David Anderson, Governor of New South Wales for eight brief weeks before he died of a cerebral haemorrhage in October 1936. Edith assumed many official duties on her husband's behalf because of debillitating illness. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 11th May 1937 for her voluntary public service to the people of New South Wales.

Edith Muriel Anderson was born in 1883 in Taipo Hill, Otago, New Zealand. She was the daughter of William Teschemaker and Eliza Pitman. ^[1] She was only four years of age at the time of her father's death.

Edith married Commander David Anderson RN in 1908 in Kensington, London, England. ^[2] David was building a distinguished career in the British Navy that would see him attain the senior rank of Admiral, before being appointed Governor of Newfoundland in 1932 and Governor of New South Wales in 1935. When David was knighted in 1930 Edith became entitled as Lady Anderson. The couple had no children.

Whilst in Newfoundland, Lady Anderson founded the Personal Service League, which worked to relieve distress for people in the country. At the end of his posting in 1935, as David's New South Wales appointment was being made a newspaper report on 6th November quoted Edith's London friends, who 'paid tribute to the social genius and delightful personality of Edith Anderson, who gives her energy and enthusiasm lavishly in social welfare work'.

After returning to Great Britain and being invested by King Edward VIII as Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) on 5th May 1936 and as Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) on 23rd June 1936, they made their way to Australia. En route to take up the office he became ill and was evacuated from the ship at Perth, Western Australia and spent six weeks in Royal Perth Hospital. He was eventually sworn in as governor in August 1936, however, died of cerebral haemhorrhage on 30th October. According to a report which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on 30th October, announcing the death of the Governor, Lady Anderson had 'won the admiration of the people of New South Wales for the manner in which she has relieved the Governor from many of his official engagements'. She continued to keep some appointments afterward until another governor could be appointed.

Lady Anderson was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on 11th May 1937 for her voluntary public service to the people of New South Wales. ^[3]

Edith retired to England. She passed away, aged 75 years, on 5th September 1958.

Sources

1. ↑ New Zealand Birth Index #1883/12901; note that her name was not recorded at the time of registration
2. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Jun qtr 1908, vol 1a, page 214
3. ↑ It's an Honour: Dame Edith Anderson; accessed 12 Sep 2018

• National Library of Australia: Anderson, Edith Muriel, (Lady, DBE)